Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 08/19/2007

Missing Since:

Missing Since 08/19/2007

Missing From:

Missing From Emerson, New Jersey

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 05/02/1965 (59)

Age:

Age 42 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 5’2, 106 – 120 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Clothing/Jewelry Description A brown tank top, a gray zip-up sweatshirt, blue denim shorts and brown flip-flops.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown/hazel eyes. Liza is of Greek descent. Her maiden name is Stellatos. She was a heavy cigarette smoker and her hair was dyed blonde at the time of her disappearance. She has the following tattoos: a red bird with vines on her left ankle, a red and green rose on her left wrist, an Irish symbol and an evil eye on her back, and an unspecified tattoo on her right wrist.

Details of Disappearance:

Liza disappeared in Emerson, New Jersey on August 19, 2007, after a big fight with her husband, Joseph. She walked away from their house, leaving behind everything – her phone, wallet, even her clothes – which is unusual. The next day, someone anonymously reported her missing.

Liza and Joseph had a troubled marriage. Liza’s family said Joseph was verbally abusive, and police were often called to their home. Joseph, who was actually named Paschal Delahunty (he used a fake name and identity), had a history of depression and suicide attempts, including one shortly after Liza vanished. He stopped cooperating with the police after that attempt.

Liza also had her own struggles. She had a history of drug abuse and depression, and had been in treatment. While she had some problems with family and neighbors, leaving without warning was out of character.

Seven years later, in 2014, police discovered Joseph’s real identity and that he had been living in the US illegally under a false name since 1990.

Despite extensive searches, Liza has never been found. Police suspect something bad happened to her after she left home that day. Her case remains a mystery.

Agency:

Emerson Police Department 201-262-2800

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